Today we’d like to introduce you to Dakota Hood.
Hi Dakota, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Growing up I was always an artist. From creating characters or creatures to drawing existing ones from my favorite cartoons. Drawing was always something I enjoyed doing and has been the most consistent hobby in my life so far. Through the pandemic and graduating high school it became very apparent to me that I wanted to pursue a career in art and follow my passion. The people I grew up around were covered in tattoos and I’ve always had a fascination with them. I got matching tattoos with my best friend for my first tattoo and was immediately hooked. In my first year of getting tattoos I got 15 in a single year often getting multiple tattoos at a time, and after being in the shops for so long I began imagining what my life could be like if I pursued it as a career.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I definitely wouldn’t say the road has been smooth but necessarily bumpy. I think I needed to learn some things for myself and grow up a bit. First and foremost I needed to accept my queerness, for the longest time I lived in a state of denial over who I really am and was so worried that I’d be rejected by my peers around me. Looking back I can’t recall a time in my life where I was more depressed and I think accepting myself has done wonders for me.For a while I told myself that a creative career wouldn’t work and that no one would want my art. Consistency is absolutely a safe feeling and even when I disliked the jobs I was doing it was secure, and even now it’s hard to fully let go. A struggle that has been especially prevalent this year is feeling so happy for my personal growth while feeling so bad about the world around me, between Gaza, ICE and just the general feeling of despair sometimes it’s difficult to be optimistic for the future when everything is so bleak for so many people.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
While it is currently a work in progress I am currently a Tattoo apprentice at Echelon Tattoo. In traditional art forms I tend to use mixed media to make my art, acrylic, watercolor, even highlighters and layering paper. While tattooing is technically only one medium I’m eager to explore all the styles and subjects. I’m probably most proud of the improvement I’ve made in a little over 7 months, I think I’ve opened my mindset and am not only willing to try but willing to try again and again until it’s perfect in my eyes
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I think the most important thing I’ve learned is to do it scared. So many times in my life I’ve let my anxieties prevent me from doing something that I want to do. Whether it’s being afraid of doing it poorly or just in general I think it’s so important to just take that step to push yourself forward past what you think your limits may be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://echelontattoo.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kod.a.artz?igsh=MXU0MXg0eDQ5cG1scw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Other: https://linktr.ee/Kodaartz
